No Repeat For 2017 Olympia Winner Juliana Malacarne
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Mr. Olympia: $675,000 212 Olympia: $65,000 Men’s Physique: $20,000 Men’s Classic Physique: $20,000
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Reigning four-time Olympia Women’s Physique Champion Juliana Malacarne of Brazil has said little about her decision not to contend for a fifth title in September, but there are plenty of advocates who are speaking out for her.
One close friend, Justin Miller, states that she’s in “good health and perfectly capable of competing but is simply choosing not to.” So could there be another reason?
Michael Bryson seems to believe there is. Bryson challenged us to take a closer look at the demands vs. rewards for female athletes in the pro bodybuilding world. He explains that the world of bodybuilding requires the most physically superior athletes, yet demands women maintain attractiveness and femininity. The prize money and endorsements, he says, don’t match up with the demands.
Juliana herself notes the sport demands a more striated look, but because there are so few sponsorships available and the prize money so limited, it’s just not economically feasible.
By comparison, look at the staggering differences in prize money in last year’s Olympia:
Men’s DivisionsMr. Olympia: $675,000 212 Olympia: $65,000 Men’s Physique: $20,000 Men’s Classic Physique: $20,000
Women’s Divisions
Ms. Olympia: $60,000 Fitness: $60,000 Figure: $60,000 Bikini: $40,000 Women’s Physique: $20,000 Despite being a four-time Olympia Physique champion, the biggest prize she can achieve is at the bottom of the scale: $20,000. Is the tremendous difference in prize part of a claim that other divisions don’t have the same fan interest as the Mr. Olympia? It’s hard to tell, but one thing is certain, with Juliana out of the competition there are two strong favorites that’ll battle it out for the top spot in Women’s Physique, Shanique Grant of Chicago and Natalia Coelho of Orlando (via New York and Brazil).Shanique Grant began her competition career in 2014 at the age of 19, taking the top spot in the East Coast Championships. Natalia Coelho began her competition career at just 17 in 2013, where she took 1st place at the NPC Southeastern USA. She’s one of the youngest pros in the circuit. Together, these ladies will definitely bring some attention to the WPD at the Olympia as a new champion is crowned.
SOURCE: Post written by Loan Cat